The first house I want to show you is my "dream home". It's actually three floors although it looks like one tall floor from the front, the lowest floor being hidden underground in front but ground level in the rear and the highest floor being created by the 8:12 roof (that means a steep slope). This house is built for entertaining. The attic is the master suite for a healthy couple but with a guest suite on the main level for when they no longer care to climb the stairs. (Then they send the guests to the attic.) This is 6000 sq. ft. with 6 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, a two car detached garage, game room, media room, three stting rooms, and the biggest pantry you've ever seen. I've included a small overhead door in the rear for staying cool while watching the kids in the pool. (Any self-respecting guest would want a room on the lower level where all the action is.) It was better the first time I drew it and I'm still tweaking it.
| Front view | Rear view | Side view |
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| Main level plan | Lower level plan | Attic plan |
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The next house is the one I hope to build on the back of my property in the next year or so. It's hard to get your own designs converted to acceptable blueprints. (Which is why my dad took his trailer to the lumber yard, bought a bunch and started building.) This one is only three bedrooms. Designed for a couple with no children, one small bedroom will double as a music room and the other, a computer room. But there is room for my regular guests who usually sleep in the floor anyway. This is about 2600 sq. ft. with a huge great room, and a balcony for the master suite upstairs. The master suite is open to the great room below and the bedroom is close to the huge fireplace. There is a practical kitchen, no dining room, and the only TV in the house will be in the sitting room in the master suite. It's designed like this to accomodate my dogs who take up a lot of space. There is one mistake in my pictures - I forgot the ceiling in the great room.
| Front view | Rear view | From the great room to the master suite |
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| From master to great | Main level plan | Upper level plan |
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This house is a small one, only 1325 sq. ft. but 411 sq. ft. are the master suite in the attic. It has a good kitchen, living room, and two smaller bedrooms, 2 baths, and a very steep stairway to the attic. The bedroom end of the attic has a wall of custom windows which frame the headboard of the bed. (Keep in mind that I live in the woods and privacy is not a big concern.) You'll notice in the plans that the master suite has two doors to the unheated attic space so storage is not an issue - plenty of closet space, too. I've used a barn-style roof to give a little character and make the usuable attic space larger.
| A bit plain without adornment | but quite nice when decorated. | The master bedroom |
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| Main floor plan | Attic plan | |
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I also have plans for a guest cottage which is only three rooms and one bath. It would be inexpensive to build and I will probably put one on the back of my property so my guests don't have to sleep in the floor. (Very big grin.) It's 460 sq ft.
| Cottage | Floor plan |
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